Through Thick & Thin

by Natasha D Frazier

  “You must have missed what I just said.” He smiled. “Just because I’m off the court, doesn’t mean I’m out of the game, sweetheart. My agent is already on top of it. He is working to get me a few interviews with some of the local sports radio and television networks.”

  “Wow! Good for you but you know you have to recover first. Although no physical activity is involved, I need to be assured that you’re ready. No rush.”

  “Thank you for the concern but I am gonna go crazy sitting around here all day. My follow-up appointment is in two weeks. When the doctor gives me the okay, I’m gonna have to get moving.”

  Tammy agreed. She understood Joshua’s need for physical activity and need to work, period. But she was excited to have him in her life again and didn’t want to lose him so soon, especially for something that could be controlled.

  They continued removing all of the audio equipment while the team shuffled around them taking down the makeshift set. With all of the noise going on around them, Joshua remained seated as he pulled Tammy up from her seat to stand in front of him. As if no one else was in the room, Joshua caressed Tammy’s cheek before planting a kiss there.

  “Try not to worry about me. Everything will be all right, especially now that I have you here with me.” He kissed her again.

  That eased her worries a little bit. “So what now?” she asked as the crew removed their final items from the home and prepared to leave.

  Joshua rose to thank the crew for everything and walked them to the door. Once everyone was gone, he closed the door behind them and turned to do what he desired to do the moment he saw Tammy again at his basketball game a few months ago. He swept her into his arms and gave her the sweetest, most loving kiss, much more passionate than the pecks he’d planted on her cheeks moments ago. Tammy didn’t pull back but instead savored the affection that he was showing her. So much had transpired between the two of them in the last couple of months since losing her grandmother, from his proposal to his heart condition and leaving the NBA. And now here he was, standing right there in her living room. She had no idea her life would change so much in such a short period of time. Although there were some things she could have done without, she was pleased with how things were now going.

  “Did that answer your question?” He smiled and pulled her closer to him.

  “It surely did.” She grinned, her head still spinning from the impression his lips left against hers.

  They decided that nothing was in the way of them beginning their new life together, so they sat down to discuss plans for their vow renewal ceremony. They would have an intimate celebration, much like before, with family and friends. They didn’t want to waste any time since they were both sure that they wanted only each other and so much time had been wasted because of selfishness and miscommunication on both of their parts.

  “Thank you for giving us another chance,” he added, running his hand along her back.

  “Thank you for not giving up on me. You could have remarried and had anyone you wanted, but you still chose me,” she said, scooting back on the couch and curling up against him.

  “The same is true for you too. I think we both knew where we needed to be—with one another. Make no mistake; my home is with you, Tammy,” he reminded her, lifting her chin to plant another kiss on her lips. The vow renewal ceremony had been a long time coming but this time nothing stood in their way—basketball careers or selfish ways. They were ready to put each other first.

  CHAPTER 10

  Raegan stopped to check her post office box on the way home from work. The day has finally come, she thought, as she opened the box and saw the letter that would give her the answers she’d been seeking. Apparently there were problems sending her the information via e-mail, so it had to be mailed to her—for privacy reasons. Her hand shook a little from nervousness as she read the words on the envelope, “Personal and Confidential. To the attention of Raegan Sanders.”

  As anxious as she was, there was no way she could open the letter right there. She needed to be in the comfort of her own home. Grabbing the other pieces of mail out of the box, she shuffled them together in her arms without flipping through them, closed the box and rushed back out to her car as the howling of the wind filled her ears.

  She drove as quickly as she could without breaking any traffic violations, at least in her opinion. Any cop looking to give a ticket that day would likely think otherwise. She was out of the car before she could let the garage door down.

  She ran into the house, shut the door behind her and said a silent prayer, leaning against the door. She slung the mail on the kitchen countertop and ripped open the important letter she had been waiting for. Pushing her curls away from her face, she read and re-read the results, hoping that she was reading them incorrectly.

  In that moment, all she could hear was the sound of her heart and the neighbors’ dogs barking as if they were in distress. Her feelings mirrored the anxiety that she heard in the dogs’ bark. She dropped the paper to the ground and her own body collapsed to the floor.

  She was so sure about what the results would be and that having the test done would confirm what she believed in her heart to be true. This was not supposed to happen. There had to be a mistake. Maybe Caleb’s DNA had worn off of the toothbrush and the soda can. Was that possible? Did the test have to be performed within a certain amount of time?

  “Okay, just breathe,” she said, trying to calm herself. “No matter what, everything is going to be all right.” But was it? How could Rico be the father of her child? And although Caleb said that he would be there for her no matter what, would he? Were her nightmares about to become her reality? How was she even going to tell Caleb? What would she say and how would she say it?

  Raegan stretched out on the tile floor in the kitchen and allowed her thoughts to run wild. The pain from lying on that hard floor was nothing compared to the pain she was feeling in her heart. “How did I get here? How am I going to deal with this when I don’t want to even see Rico’s face, let alone deal with him for the rest of my life? How can I deny my child the chance to get to know his father?” She continued to wonder aloud. The thought of pretending that Caleb was the father crossed her mind, but there was no way she would be able to deceive Caleb in that way. She knew the hurt that came along when someone kept secrets—especially ones that could hurt. As the hot water streamed from her eyes, she just lay there.

  Unaware of how much time had passed, her pity party was interrupted by the ringing of her doorbell. She wasn’t expecting anyone. She was about to ignore it until she heard the sound of Caleb’s voice. Her stomach twisted into tiny knots, knowing that she had no choice but to reveal the truth to him that evening. Why did he have to show up now? she thought. She didn’t even have a chance to rehearse what she would say.

  Rolling to her side, she pushed herself off the floor and walked slowly to the door, as if she were facing her doom. It was so quiet, she could hear the sound of the clock ticking. The countdown had begun. Peeking through the peephole as if she didn’t know who was there, she reached for the doorknob and opened the door.

  “Cami, how are you sweetheart?” He gave her a lingering hug and walked past her to the living room. He took a seat and pulled her onto his lap. “I am sorry for coming over unannounced, but I really needed to apologize for how I acted the last time I was here,” he said looking into her eyes, pushing a few dangling curls behind her ears. Work and his issues about the DNA testing had been in their way. Other than pre-marital counseling, they hadn’t seen each other since he caught her with the Ziploc bags. He’d been cold and distant. They’d talked on the phone for a few minutes each day but tip-toed around the subject of the baby. Of all days, today was the day he chose to clear the air. He loved her and he refused to allow the DNA issue to be the thorn in his side.

  You may take back this apology after you hear what I have to say, she thought to herself.

  “I know that as a soon-to-be mother it must be hard for yo
u not knowing the truth about the baby. It was selfish of me not to expect or want you to get answers. Please forgive me?” he asked, lifting her hands to his mouth, gently placing a kiss on each one.

  “Caleb, I forgive you. I want to apologize for going about it the wrong way. I felt like you wouldn’t agree to get tested, so I chose to sneak and do it behind your back by tricking you into using a toothbrush and drinking out of a can so that I could have your DNA.”

  Caleb acknowledged his displeasure with her tactics by nodding and shifting in his seat. But he still remained silent. He gave her hands a reassuring squeeze.

  “I accept your apology, Cami. I think anyone would have done what you did, maybe not the same way, but they would have done what needed to be done.”

  “I think so, but I still want to apologize for even getting you caught up in all of this. If I hadn’t seduced you . . . ”

  “Seduced me?” He threw his head back slightly and laughed. “Cami, we’re both adults. No matter what you did, I still had to make a choice and with those choices, there are consequences. This just happens to be what it is.”

  Slipping her fingers out of his, she stood and wiped her sweaty palms down the front of her pants. She turned away slightly, taking a few steps back in an attempt to prepare herself to give him the news.

  “Well Caleb, there is more. I had the test done and I received the results today.” She paused, waiting for his reaction. He shifted his body toward her, with his elbows on his knees. Gazing at her as if to say, “and?” he waited for her to continue, the sound of the second hand on the clock ticking away in his ear. When she didn’t say anything, he stood and asked, “So?” Her silence gave the answer away, but he needed to hear her say it.

  “Biologically, Rico is the father of this baby,” she confirmed, rubbing her belly as the hot tears slid down her cheeks again.

  He shut his eyes in disappointment at the news. Although he knew there was a great possibility that the child didn’t biologically belong to him, it still didn’t hurt any less to find out the truth. In a moment he put aside his feelings and pulled a teary-eyed Raegan into his arms. He knew the news must have devastated her as well, and now they had to decide how they would deal with the facts. He was determined to keep his promise and stay by her side, but the challenge now became Rico. How would he factor into all of this, considering he was the father yet married to another woman?

  CHAPTER 11

  Caleb loved Raegan and was committed to staying true to his word—he would be there for her and the baby. Although he never intended to leave her, in the back of his mind, he believed that biologically the baby would be his and that he wouldn’t actually have to prove his loyalty to her. After Raegan’s confession, he took his seat and sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Hundreds of thoughts swirled around in his head. Things were about to get even more complicated. He would need to be with her when she shared the news with Rico.

  Caleb leaned forward on the couch, hands rubbing the back of his neck. Lifting his head to look at her, he asked, “So when are you planning to tell Rico the good news? Or does he already know?” Caleb didn’t really think that Rico knew about Raegan’s pregnancy, but he could never be too sure, seeing as though Raegan had become a pro at keeping secrets and taking matters into her own hands.

  “He suspects that I’m with child,” Raegan confirmed.

  “How is that?” Surprise and confusion covered his face. His eyebrows nearly rose to his hairline. He had no idea that she had been in contact with Rico.

  Raegan explained her recent encounter with Rico at the sandwich shop. Her stomach turned at the thought of seeing him again. She hadn’t quite thought of how she would tell Rico the entire truth because she wanted to keep it from him. She knew that would hurt Rico and that’s exactly what she wanted to do – hurt him like he hurt her. However, she couldn’t do that to her baby. She would not keep him out of the baby’s life if he decided that he wanted to be a part of it; she just wasn’t exactly sure how all of this would work.

  As if to distract Caleb, Raegan walked into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. Still he remained silent, waiting for her to explain how she planned to address this situation with Rico. It wasn’t that he was upset; he was disappointed. He knew that if he spoke, she would be able to hear it in his voice. He didn’t want her stressed and concerned with his feelings at the moment. He needed her to stay well so that the baby would be okay. Happy mommy, happy baby.

  Putting aside his feelings, he went into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her. Standing behind her, he rubbed her shoulders and then her stomach. Raegan turned to face him and returned the hug.

  “Thank you for this. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling,” Raegan acknowledged. Although he didn’t say anything, the pain and disappointment were evident in his eyes. They seemed dark. He looked as if he was carrying a huge burden.

  “Don’t mention it,” he said, covering her lips with his right index finger. He couldn’t explain his feelings if he wanted to and this certainly wasn’t the moment for him to try. “Just know that I am here for whatever you need. None of this changes my feelings for you Cami. I love you. I still want to be with you. You get that, right? You are still going to be my wife.” He lifted her chin so that their eyes could meet. He understood she was vulnerable and he made every effort to assure her that he wasn’t going anywhere. He’d waited far too long to be with her.

  Her ears were thirsty for those words. She knew that Caleb was serious about staying around, but she felt guilty for allowing him to. She was still having a difficult time wrapping her head around all of this mess and was certain she needed more time to process it all. Definitely before she said one word to Rico. And his poor wife? Ah!

  She rested her head into Caleb’s chest as he softly rubbed the back of her neck. They held their embrace until Raegan felt the vibration of his phone in his pants pocket.

  “You can take that,” she suggested as she stepped away and walked out of the kitchen into the living room. She took a seat in the recliner and positioned it to elevate her feet. From what she could make out from Caleb’s end of the conversation, he was being called back into the office. Although she was glad he was there, she also needed some time be alone to think.

  “Can I call you later? I have to run back to the office for about an hour or so,” Caleb said, putting his phone away in his pocket as he retraced his steps back into the living room. “I can come back if you need me to.”

  “I think I’m fine. I appreciate you coming to check on me when you did. It’s been a rough day.”

  “No problem,” he murmured against her lips, kissed her goodbye, and covered her with a blanket before letting himself out of the house.

  About an hour after mulling over her disappointment, she pulled out her cell phone and hesitantly scrolled to the number labeled never talk to again and tapped “call” on her touchscreen.

  When she heard the call being answered, before the voice on the other line could speak, she blurted out, “We need to talk.”

  “Who is this?” a woman’s voice asked. Raegan pulled the phone away from her ear to make sure she had dialed the correct number. Confirming that she had, she realized that Rico’s wife must have answered his phone.

  Chloe, Rico’s wife, pulled the phone away from her ear to see the caller ID name. Raymond, the name Rico used to disguise Raegan’s identity in case his wife ever looked through his call log. The voice on the line sounded nothing like a man. Chloe thought back to the nights when she couldn’t reach Rico and he said that he’d been sleeping, working extra hours at the dealership or out with his boys. Hearing the woman’s voice on the line coupled with the name Raymond on the caller ID made her suspicious. She hoped and prayed that Rico hadn’t been lying to her again after all that she’d put into their relationship.

  Raegan hung up the phone. She wasn’t expecting his wife to answer. What was she supposed to say? Her heart fluttered and chills ran over her
as her phone began to ring, displaying never talk to again.

  Rico’s wife was calling back. She would look suspicious if she didn’t answer, so she picked up the phone. She had nothing to hide. She wasn’t the one sleeping next to this woman at night telling her lies.

  “The caller ID says Raymond. I’m assuming that isn’t your real name. Tell me. Who are you and what is it you wanted with Rico?” Chloe asked, fearing the worst—Rico had been cheating again. The one who promised to always be faithful to her. The one who promised “till death do us part.” The one who said he would give his life for her. The one who said he wanted to have children with her and grow old together. But yet again, here she was calling Raymond because she wanted to know the truth, which she obviously hadn’t been getting from Rico.

  Raegan thought for a moment. How should she answer that question? Rico had lied enough to his wife she assumed; there was no way that Raegan could do the same, especially since she asked. What if it were me, Raegan thought.

  “I’m Raegan…we should probably meet to talk about this, if you want to hear the whole truth,” Raegan finally answered. Some part of her thought that it would make the situation better if Chloe could see her face and see how apologetic she was for everything that was happening. To see that she had no intentions of ruining her marriage or her life. To see that she was truly sorry and that she hadn’t even known that Rico was married when she was dating him. To see that she hoped that Chloe and her husband could work out whatever issues they had, because she absolutely wanted no parts of Rico and she’d came up with a plan to get him out of her life forever..

  “Fine,” Chloe said a little reluctantly. Her mouth became dry and beads of perspiration formed on her forehead just thinking of what news this strange woman could be sharing with her and why she needed to speak with her husband. They decided on a time and location and ended the call.

  Chloe fought to keep her emotions under control when the call ended. Had Rico been cheating again? Her agitation grew as she fixed her hair, dressed and grabbed her purse to meet Raegan. She couldn’t believe that she had become that woman – the one who was getting information from the mistress and not her husband. Rico promised that he wouldn’t cheat again and he lied, she surmised. Why else would Raegan call to talk to him and ask to meet with her? Starting her car, she promised herself that no matter what, Rico would be on the receiving end of her wrath. There was no way she was going to live the rest of her life with a cheating husband.